Spherix Names Future CEO

Spherix, the Beltsville information technology company that is transforming itself into a biotech concern, said it has found its future chief executive.

Claire L. Kruger will take over the reins of the company once shareholders approve a deal to sell off a division that makes reservations for national parks. Board member Robert Lodder would become president. Until then, Kruger will head up the company's health sciences unit, the current CEO and president Richard Levin said in a release (pdf).

The health sciences unit will focus on providing technical and consulting services to biotech and pharmaceutical companies, and has signed its first clients. The company also is working to commercialize Naturlose, a naturally occurring sugar tagatose. The company is researching whether the drug is useful as a treatment for Type 2 diabetes.